Next time you are in a group of adults, look around you. Statistically, 1 out of 3 adults has prediabetes. So who is it? Could it be you? Your best friend? Your spouse? There are no clear symptoms of prediabetes, so if you have it you probably wouldn’t know.
Prediabetes is when a person’s blood sugar level is higher than average, but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is not a diagnosis but a warning sign that if we don’t make some lifestyle choices there is a high likelihood that we may be looking at a diabetes diagnosis in the near future. While prediabetes (or ‘borderline diabetes,’ or ‘impaired fasting glucose’) is common, many are not aware of this condition.
Diabetes at this point is still preventable. If you think you are at risk for prediabetes, schedule an appointment with us and we can do a simple blood test to let you know where you stand.
Risk factors for prediabetes are similar to type 2 diabetes. A family history of diabetes, a personal history of having gestational diabetes or delivering a large infant, sedentary lifestyle, metabolic syndrome, and hypoglycemic events may increase this risk for you.
If you are prediabetic, what can you do to prevent it from developing into type 2 diabetes?
There is research that says you can reduce your risk by 58% by doing 2 things:
- Lose 5-7% of your body weight (this can be around 10-15 lbs)
- Do moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, for 30 minutes/day, 5 days/week.
A great website for additional information is diabetes.org. Here you will find practical tips for implementing these suggestions and find answers to questions you may have about diabetes and prediabetes.
Think you don’t have time to implement those lifestyle changes? Well, how much time do you have to be sick? Think about all the time and money that goes into managing diabetes…
NVEST in yourself NOW – you only have one body so take care of it! We are here to help you to achieve your health goals in any way that we can – we’re rooting for you! If you have any questions or need any tips/assistance to maintaining/improving your health, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will update this blog and send out periodic emails with tips for a healthy lifestyle.
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